Liverpool are preparing a formal approach to sign AS Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche this summer, with sources close to the club indicating a bid in the region of €50 million is being structured. The 24-year-old French international has emerged as the frontrunner to fill the void left by Mohamed Salah, who will walk away from Anfield at the end of the season as a free agent after the club chose not to trigger the extension clause in his contract.
Why Akliouche Makes Sense for Slot's System
Arne Slot has spent the better part of a year searching for a profile that fits his pressing-heavy, transition-oriented system — and the Monaco man ticks nearly every box. Akliouche operates primarily from the right but has the freedom to cut inside and combine through congested spaces, which mirrors exactly how Liverpool deploy their wide forward. His season numbers tell the story clearly: seven goals and 11 assists across 41 appearances in all competitions, a return that few 24-year-olds in Europe can match. The assists column is particularly telling. Liverpool's first-choice forward position demands a player who creates as much as he scores, and Akliouche's eye for a pass through the line puts him squarely in that bracket.
The Competition and the Price
Liverpool are not alone in their admiration. Both Manchester City and Chelsea have been monitoring Akliouche since the second half of last season, and Monaco's own asking price has risen sharply as the interest has grown. The Ligue 1 side are reportedly looking for a fee closer to €60 million now that formal approaches are expected, though Liverpool believe a deal can be concluded below that figure if negotiations are opened before the end of the domestic season. Slot is understood to be personally enthusiastic about the move, having been briefed on detailed video analysis of the player over the past two months. The club are also reportedly tracking Akliouche's Monaco teammate Lamine Camara in a possible double swoop — an ambitious move that would reshape Liverpool's attacking and midfield options in one summer window.
Salah's Shadow Won't Be Easy to Escape
Replacing Mohamed Salah is not a task for the faint-hearted. The Egyptian has spent eight seasons dismantling Premier League defences and rewriting scoring records that many assumed were untouchable. Akliouche is talented, but he will arrive at Anfield with a weight of expectation that few transfers in recent memory carry. The best outcome for everyone is that Liverpool allow him to settle into Slot's structure gradually rather than hand him a number eleven shirt and expect immediate miracles. If the €50 million deal goes through and Akliouche replicates even half of Salah's creative output in year one, that would be regarded as a success. The hard part comes after that.
Transfer context: Maghnes Akliouche, 24, French international. Monaco. 2024–25 stats: 7 goals, 11 assists in 41 appearances. Reported fee: €50–60m. Salah's contract expires June 2026.
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